Portable shovel



June l, 1937. G. A. MccLAlN 2,082,018

l PORTABLE sHovEL.

Filed July 15, 1935 5 sheets-Sheet 1 BY 44 2 uw AML es e.55 1 ATTORNEYS.

G. A. MCCLAIN PORTABLE SHOVEL June l, 1937.

Filed July 13, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June l, 1937.

C-. A. MCCLAIN FORTABLE SHOVEL Filed July 13, 1935 3 Sheets-Swat 3 INVEN TOR.

BYfv//VW M I par@ `ATToRNEYs- Patented June .1', 1937 l UNITED sfrii'rlas-v 2,082,013 roa'ranm snoym.

omver a. Macminfsm'rrmmw, ome.- 7

signor of one-tenth to James. Harry Layne,

Alameda, Calif.,

one-tenth L to Harold McClain, and one-tenth to Rainey McClain,

both of `Sam Francisco, Calif Application July 1 3, 1935.,- Sel'lal N0. 31,265

11 claims.

My invention relates to improvements in port- `able shovels, and it consists of the combinations,

constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a portable shovel in winch the bucket arm is pivotally mounted on `a rotatable mast which in turn is rotatably mounted on a ilxed mast, the latter being carried by a truck chassis or the like. lI'he ro- A tatable r'nast also carries the power source. In this respect the present invention is similar to my `cci-pending application on a portable crane, filed May 18, 1935, Serial No.A 22,273.

In the standard portable shovel the boom is l5 made extremely heavy, and' this boom carries ,the bucket arm approximately at the mid-portion of the boom. The force of the digging operation and the weight of the load is therefore transmitted to the lmiddle of the boom, and it is for so this reason thatthe boom must be strongly built at `its mid-portion. This 'increases the weight of- Y the entire device unnecessarily.

In the present invention the boom is used merely for lifting the load, and the bucket 'arm is pivotally and movably connected to the rotating mast instead of to the boom. Therefore the 'strength of the boom can be materially reduced.

I lfurther employ cable means for crowdingthe bucket arm into the earth during the digging. operation. This arrangement takes the place of thel standard mechanism mounted in the middle of the boom for forcing the bucket arm into dig-lv ging position. I The device is emcient for the purpose intended,

and is much lighter in construction because oi."

the novel actuating means. Cables take the place of the usual gearing found in the standard portable shovels.

Other'objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will b e particularly pointed out in the appended claims.'

y l My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, inl

which Figure 5 is a section along the/line E-b of Figure 3: and

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In carrying out my invention I make use of aI truck chass indicated generally at and on this .60 chassis I me nt a stationary ,mast 2, and secure;

it in vertical position in any desired manner. Figv ure 3 shows a rotatable mast 3 mounted on the stationary mast 2, and the rotatable mast comprises the llower casting 4, a tubular member l,

and a top, casting 8. The tubular member or Y Vsleeve 5 is threaded into the castings 4 and 8. and

connects them together, so that all three parts rotate as a unit. In this respect the present device the mast 3 on the stationary masi-.2 I provide a cable for accomplishing the same purpose. In Figure 6 the sleeve 5 is shown threaded into 'the casting 4 and this casting is shown rotatably mounted on a cone-shaped member l that is welded or otherwise made integral with the stationary -mast 2. A thrust bearing 8 is disposed on the cone-shaped support l and rotatably carries the casting 4. A large wheel 9 is also shown in Figure 6, and this wheel is formed in two sections,` and these sections are rigidly secured to the supportl l by bolts I0, or other suitable fastening means. In this way the wheel 9 is heldy against rotation, whilepermitting the casting 4 to rotate thereabove. g y

I will now briefly describe the power plant, and will show how motion is imparted to the rotatable mast for swinging'it about the nxed mast. i In Figures 3 and 5 I show a platform.l Il that is rigidly secured to the casting 4 so that the platform will rotate with the casting. Bracing means not shown may extend from the outer end of the platform to the casting G for supporting the platform. Aninternal combustion engine I2 or other suitable power source is mounted on the platform I I, and is operatively connected to three drums Il, I4 and I5. These drums are independently and selectively connected to the engine I2 in any manner desired, such as' by the use of clutches, which are operated by hand cranks I8.` 'Ihe means for rotating the rotatable mast 8 comprises a shaft I1, see Figures 3 and 5, which is operatively connected to the engine 2. A

second shaft I8 extends at rightangles from the shaft Il, and has abeveled gear I9 constantly meshing with two beveled gears 20 and/52|. The gears 20 and 2| are loosely mounted on the shaft ff,'andmay be`independently connected to the shaft by clutches 22 and 23,'theseolutches be' ing operated by a lever 24 in the same manner as that shownl in my co-pending application. In

fact'the unit just'described is identical to the similar unit inthe companion cas.

Figure 3 vshows the shaft I 8 operatively connected to a shaft 26 by a-worm 26 mounted on the shaft I8, this wornrmeshingvwith a worm gear 21 thaiiis seitlll'ed t0 the Shaft 25. This COD- struction is such as to permit the shaft I8` to rock slightly about the shaft l1 if n, vand the gear 21 can also rock slightly about th aft 25 if desired. This mechanism has also'b en shown` in my co-pending case in detail. l

Again referring to Figure 5 the shaft 25 is shown carrying a drum 29, and a cable 38 is wrapped around the drum a few turns, and is thenguided over pulleys 3| and adjustable pulleys 32 to the wheel 9. One or more turns on the cable 30 may be madeabout the wheel 9 as shown in Figures 3 .and 6, and the cable is anchored to .the wheel at 33, see Figure 6, in order to be held against slipping. It will be seen from this construction that whenthe lever 24 is moved inv on'e direction in Figure 5, the drum 29 will be rotated in one direction, and this will cause Y `the cable 30 to swing the rotatable mast and thev the drum 29 to rotate oppositely and to swing the platform II and the rotatable mast 3 .in the other direction. It is obvious that any other type of mast-rotating means may be used such as, for example, the means shown in my co-pending case.

I will'now describe the construction of theA bucket arm. Figures 3 and 4 show thislpart of t The mast' 6 carries a pin,

the device in detail. I 3,4. Figure 4 shows two pulleys 35 and 36 rotatably mounted on the pin 34 and disposed adjacent to the casting 6. A third pulley 31 is rotatably mounted on the opposite side of 'the casting 6 and is carried by the pin 34. The arms of the bucket carrier are channel-shaped as shownA hat 38 and 39. These arms are slotted at 40 for slidably'receiving the pin 34. A separatingplate` 4I, see Figure 4, is disposed between the`channel 38 and the pulley 36.- A second separating plate 42 is disposed between the channel 39 and the pulley 31. A rack 43 is mounted in each arm 38 and 39, and extends throughout a p'redetermined length of the arm for a. purpose hereinafter described. Pinions 44 are rotatably mounted on the pin 34 and mesh with the racks 43. The pinions are rigidly connected to the brake drums 45,l and the drums carry brake linings46. Figures 3 and 4 show brake bands 41 mounted on the linings. J

One end of each brake band 41 is connected by the link 48 to an adjustable coupling 49, which in turn, is .pivotally connected to an arm 50 thatvis rigidly connected to a cross rod 5I. The other end of the brake band 41 is connected by a link 52 to a stationarypart of the device such as a stub shaft 53.' There are two arms 50 each of which is connected to its respective brake band 41. A spring 54 is connected b'y means of an arm 55 to the rod 5 I, and this spring exerts a constant braking actionA against the brake ydrums which,V in turn. prevent the bucket arms 38 and 39 from moving downwardly too rapidly due to gravity. p

The operator may release the brake bands 41 by pressing a foot .pedal 56, see Figure 5. This foot pedal is pivoted at 51, see Figure 3, and is connected by a link 58 to an arm 59 which. in f turn, is rigidly connected to the r'dy 5I. A depressing of the foot pedal will simultaneously actuate both arms 50 to free both brakes,

`within the railing 8I.

2,082,018 casing 28 housing the worm 2b and the wormV The casting 4 pivotally supports a boom 60 at 6I, see Figure 6. The boom carries a number of pulleys 62 at its outer end. The bucket arms 38 and 39 pivotally carry the bucket 63 at 64. and

the bucket is secured in adjusted` position by links 65 having perforations 66 through which a pin 61 may be passed. A bail 68 is pivotally secured to the front top of the bucket, and in turn is pivotally connected to a block and tackle .69.

I will now describe the various drums I3, I4

land I5, and show how they are connected to the various parts.4 The drum I3 has a top lift cable 10 wrapped therearound, and Figure 3 shows this cable as being passed around a pulley 1I on the rotatable mast 3. The cable is then passed over the pulley 35, see Figure 4, and thence out to one ofthe pul1eys 62 on the boom 60. 'Ihe cable is then brought back and wrapped around the pulley4 31, shown in Figure 4, and

- then out overvanother one of the pulleys 62. The end of the cable 10`is dead ended at 12 to the .casting 6.l The drum I3 when actuated in one direction will, through the cable 10, raise the boom 60 about thepivot 6I, and when rotated in the opposite direction will lower the boom. v

A crowd cable 13 is wrapped around the drum I4 and extends over a sheave 14 on the rotatable mast 3, see Figure 3, and then is passed over the sheave 36 shown in Figure 4. Figures 2 and 3 -show the cable 13 as being passed around two pulleys 15 disposed at the 'outer end of the bucket arm and then the end of the cable 13 is dead ended at 16 to the casting 6. 'I'he operator actuates the ,drum I4 for winding up the cable when he desires to crowd the bucket 63 into the material duringthedigging operation. The cable 13 through the pulleys 15 exerts a ldownward force on the bucket arm in the direction oiitsVIlength, and'this will give sufficient force for the digging operation.

.last drum I5ghas a load, cable 11 woundI ,therearound and thisgf'able is passed over va s'heave'18v on the rotatable mast. The cable 11 then extends ovut overyone of the pulleys 62 and The cable '11 then' extends over another sheave 62, `and has its end dead end at to the block A69'. It is obvious that addi ional ,turns of the Acable and more sheaves Bland 19 may be used -if extra power is needed; "When the drum I5 is actuated it will wind up the cable 11 for lifting -the bucket 63 during the digging operation,` and be readily understood.

then down around a lpulley 19 in the block `69.

The operator stands on the platform II, and y can actuate any one of the hand cranks I6, the lever 24 or the pedal ..56 fromhis position The engine I2 operates the gearing mechanism not shown, so that rotation is imparted to the shaft I1 and so that ro- Y tation can be imparted to any one of the drums I3, I4 and I5 at the will of the operator.. The lever 24 is actuated for`rotating the mast 3' in either direction in the manner already1 described.

` .The boom 60 is lifted into the desired angular position by means of the cable 1|I connected to the drum I3. The actual digging operation is performed by the crowd line 13 and by the loadl line, 11. Both oi' these lines are actuated by the drums I4 and I5 respectively.

'Ihe bucket 63 is of standard construction and has a swingable back 82, see Figure 2. The back is carried by arms 83, see Figure l, and these arms are pivoted at 64. A spring-pressed latch 84 normally is received in a recess in the bottom wall 85 of the bucket and secures the rear wall 82 from swinging outwardly. A dump line not shown is connected to the spring latch 84, and the operator by this means releases the rear wall 82 when the bucket is loaded, and this permits the contents of the bucket to be dumped.

Practically the entire strain of the digging operation is carried bythe rotatable mast 3, and not by the boom 60. In this way the weight of the device can be materially lessened. The stationary mast 2 is shown reinforced by struts 86, see Figure 1,. Any other type of reinforcement may be utilized.

I claim: 1. In a portable shovel, a mast, a pin carried thereby, a bucket arm slidably and pivotally mounted on the pin, a rack carried by the arm,

1 thereby, a bucket arm slidably and pivotally thereby, channehshaped arms pivotally mounted on the pin, a rack carried by the arm, a pinion mounted on the pin and meshing with the rack, a brake drum connected with the pinion, a brake shoe riding on the drum, and means for exerting a continual braking action of the shoe on the drum for preventing longitudinal movement of the bucketl arm, and manually controlled means for freeing the brake for permitting longitudinal movement of the arm.

3. In a portable shovel, a rotatable mast, a pin carried thereby, -a bucket arm pivotally and slidably carried by the pin, a' bucket mounted on the lower end of the arm, pulleys carried by the other end of the arm and by the pina cable passed around the pin pulley and extended over the arm pulleys and being dead ended at the mast, and means for winding up the cable for exerting a downward pull on the arm for moving it in the direction of its length.

4. In a portable shovel, a rotatable mast, a pin carried thereby, ay bucket arm pivotally and slidably carried by the pin, a bucket mounted on the lower end of the arm, pulleys carried by the other end of the arm and'by the pin, a cable passed around the pin pulley and extended over the arm pulleys and being dead ended at the mast, and means for winding up the cable for exerting a. downward pull 'on ,the arm for moving it in the direction of its length, and a brake for stopping the downward movement of the arm.

5. In a portable shovel, a support, a bucket arm slidably and pivotally carried thereby, a bucketI carried by the arm, a boom carried bythe support, a Crowder line for moving the arm downwardly when the bucket is digging, a load line passed over the boom and connected to the bucket for lifting it, and power means manually controlled, for simultaneously winding up on both lines for moving the bucket through a digging operation, means for moving the boom into the desired angular position, and means for rotating thc sup- .pert for swinging the boom about a vertical axis.

6. In a portable shovel, a mast, a pin car vied md slidably carried by the pin, a bucket carried by the free ends of the arms, pinions mounted on the pin, racks carried by the arms and meshing with the pinions, and spring means for con- .free ends of the arms, pinions mounted on the pin, racks carried by the arms and meshing with the pinions, and spring lmeans for applying a bracking force to the pinions for controlling the sliding of the arms along the pin, and a manually actuated pedal 'operatively connected tothe brakes for freeing them when the pedal is depressed.

8. A portable shovel comprising a vertical stationary mast,cp\a rotatable mast rotatably mountedon and partially telescoping the stationary mast, a bucket arm pivotally and slidably carried-by the rotatable mast adjacent to the top thereof, a bucket carried by the arm', a boom pivotally carried by the rotatable mast adjacent to the bottom of the mast, and manually controlled means for actuating the rotatable mast, the bucket arm, and boom for digging purposes.

9. A portable shovel comprising a, stationary mast, a rotatable mast rotatably mounted on the stationary mast, a bucket arm pivotally and slidably carried by the rotatable mast adjacent to the top thereof, a bucket carried by the arm, a boom pivotally carried by the rotatable mast adjacent to the bottom of themast, and manually controlled means for actuating the rotatable mast, the bucket arm, and boom for-digging purposes, said means including cable actuated means for moving the bucket arm, cable actuated means for moving the boom, cable actuated means for lifting the bucket, and cable actuated means for rotating the rotatable mast.

10. In a device of the type described, a vertical stationary mast, a rotatable mast `rotatably mounted on and partially telescoping the stationary mast, a platform carried by the rotatable mast, a cable wrapped around the rotatable'mast and being connected therewith, a drum mounted on the platform, the ends of the cable being secured thereto in such a manner that a rotation of the drum in one direction will rotate the rotatable mast in one direction and vice versa, and means for rotating the drum in eitheri direction.

11. In a. device of the type described, a vertical stationary mast. a rotatable mast rotatably mounted on and' partially telescoping the stationary mast, a platform carried by the rotatable mast, a cable wrapped around the rotatable mast and being connected therewith, idler pulleys carried by. the platform, the ends of the cable bethat a rotation' of the drum in one direction will rotate the rotatable mast in one direction and vice versa, and means for rotating the drum in either direction.

GROVER. A. MCCLAIN. 

